Field marker



July 20, 1965 o. WATMOUGH FIELD MARKER Filed July 5. 1963 United StatesPatent 3,195,650 FIELD MARKER (Sliver Watmough, General Delivery,Lethbridgc, Alberta, Canada Filed July 5, I963, 53in. No. 293,592 1Jlaim. (till. 172-126) My invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in field markers, particularly in field markers of the typedescribed and claimed in myUnited States Patent Nos. 2,511,521 and2,725,814.

The principal object and essence of my invention is to provide a fieldmarker of the character herewithin described which includes a trash barand means to adjust the angularity of the discs horizontally withrespect to the main beam.

I have found it desirable not only to add a trash bar to my existingdevice in order to prevent furrowing between the outboard support andthe main beam but, most importantly, to adjust the angularity of one orthe other of the discs not only to facilitate in the tracking of thedevice but also to facilitate the efficient marking of the field uponwhich the device is to be used.

By providing the angular adjustment to the furrowing disc, I can utilizeeither a concave-convex disc or, alternatively, a planar disc thusmaking the construction and replacement of the device more universal.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterherewithin described which includes various methods for providing thesaid angular adjustment depending upon the construction of the mainbeam.

A yet further object of my invention is to provide a device of thecharacter herewithin described which is extremely simple inconstruction, economical in manufacture, and otherwise well suited tothe purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects andadvantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to whichthis invention relates as this specification proceeds, my inventionconsists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all ashereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of my device showing one method ofadjusting the angularity of one of the discs.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged top plan view of an alternative method ofadjustment.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view thereof.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a further method ofadjustment.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the different figures.

Proceeding therefore to describe my invention in detail, reference toFIGURE 1 will show the main beam consisting, in this embodiment, of alongitudinally extending length of channel iron. Intermediate the endsthereof and extending at an inclined angle therefrom is the draft armassembly 11 including aperture 12 at the distal end 13 thereof wherebythe device may be attached to the towing means in the conventionalmanner.

Extending at right angles from the opposite side of the main beam 10 tothe draft arm, is the outboard support 14 consisting of a U-shaped strapwith legs i5 spaced and parallel and secured to the flanged edges 16 ofthe channel as by Welding. .A spacer 17 for stiffening purposes issituated between the legs as clearly shown.

A trash bar 13 consisting of a strap, is Welded by the end 19 thereof tothe extremity 20 of the outboard support and extends forwardly in adiagonal direction to be secured by the end 21 thereof to the center ofthe main 3,195,656 Patented July 20, 1965 beam Iii adjacent the frontend 22 thereof. This trash bar prevent trash from piling up in the angle23' between the outboard support and the main beam 1% A front furrowwheel assembly collectively designated 23 is journalled for rotation ina substantially vertical plane adjacent the aforementioned front end 22of the main beam and a rudder or steering disc assembly collectivelydesignated 24 is journalled for rotation in a vertical plane adjacentthe rear end 25' of the main beam.

Either one or both of these assemblies 23 and 24 is provided with meansto adjust the horizontal angular relationship of the disc with the mainbeam within limits and in FIGURE 1 this adjustment is shown inconjunction with the front assembly 23 whereas in FIGURE 2, it is shownin conjunction with both of the disc assemblies 23 and 24.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, this adjustment meanscomprises a bearing tube 25 carrying a spindle 26 for rotationtherewithin, said bearing tube extending through a slot 27 Within themain web 28 of the channel beam 10. This disc 29 which may be eitherplanar or concave-convex, is secured to the end of the spindle extendingthrough the bearing tube 25 and the spindle is prevented fromdisplacement from the tube by means of cotter pin 30 extending throughthe other end 31 of the spindle.

An angulated adjustment bar 32 is apertured to fit over the bearing tubeand is secured to the bearing tube adjacent the inner face 34 of the web28 and nut and bolt assemblies 35 extend through each end 36 of the bar52 and through apertures within the web 28 so that by adjusting the nutand bolt assemblies 35, the assembly is held firmly to the main beam Web28 and at the desired horizontal angle thereto.

FIGURE 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the assembly 23 or 24 inwhich a stub shaft 37 is secured centrally to the adjustment bar 32,said stub shaft once again extending through a slot 27 within the web ofthe main beam Ill. The disc 29 is secured to the end 38 of the stubshaft with a not (not illustrated) engaging the threaded extremity 39 ofthe stub shaft. Once again the nut and bolt assemblies 35 secure theassembly to the main beam at the desired angular adjustment within thelimits of the assembly.

FIGURE 4 shows a further embodiment particularly useful when the mainbeam 10 is made of solid stock rather than channel material. In thisembodiment, a clevis 46 extends around each side of the main beam and ispivotally secured thereto by means of pivot pin 41. Stub shaft 42extends from the end 43 of the clevis to hold the disc 29 by means of acotter pin (not illustrated) passing through aperture 44 at the end ofthe stub shaft.

The angulated adjustment bar 32 is secured between the ends 45 of theclevis a by welding and the apertures 46 within the ends of theadjustment bar are screw threaded to receive screw threaded studs 47,the ends 48 of which engage the main beam Iii so that by adjusting theposition of the studs within the angulated adjustment bar, the necessaryhorizontal angular adjustment of the disc assembly is obtained.

By providing the aforementioned limited horizontal angular adjustment ofone or both of the disc assemblies, I am able to facilitate the trackingof the field marker depending upon the ground surface conditions and toprovide the necessary furrow mark required.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabovedescribed, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same madewithin the spirit and scope of the claim without departing from suchspirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in theaccompanying specification shall be interpreted as gaging discs carriedby the end portions of said frame member at said one side thereof, atleast one of said discs being horizontally angularly adjustable relativeto the frame member, and means for mounting said adjustable disc on saidframe member, said mounting means comprising a rigid horizontalelongated strap disposed at said other side of the frame member oppositefrom said adjustable disc, said strap, being angulated intermediate itsends to provide a fulcrum at its point of angulation and a pair ofrangu'larly offset strap end portions extending in opposite directionsfrom said fulcrum, axle means connected to said strap at saidfulcrum andprojecting through a transverse opening in said frame member to saidfirst mentioned side of the frame member, said adjustable disc 4 beingmounted on the projecting portion of said axle means, said strap fulcrumrockably engaging said other side of said frame member whereby thehorizontal angular relationship of said axle means and of saidadjustable disc to the frame member may be adjusted, and a pair ofadjusting bolts extending through apertures provided in said framemember at opposite sides of said opening, said bolts engaging therespective angularly offset end portions of said strap whereby to retainthe strap in position on the frame member and whereby to permitadjustment of the strap through rocking about its fulcrum by looseningof either of said bolts and corresponding tightening of the other.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,511,521 6/50Watmough 172186 2,725,814 12/55 Watmough 172-l26 FOREIGN PATENTS 144,22511/51 Australia.

ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

